I provide emotionally focused, culturally rooted therapy in Tustin, CA for first-generation Latinas and multicultural couples who feel emotionally distant but still deeply committed to one another. My work supports individuals and partners navigating attachment wounds, generational pressure, unspoken resentment, and the fear of repeating painful family patterns. In Tustin, where tradition and growth coexist side by side, I offer a space where you can explore your emotional truth without minimizing your cultural identity.
For years, I've worked with clients across Orange County, including those living near Old Town Tustin, The District, and neighborhoods along Red Hill Avenue and Irvine Boulevard. Tustin carries a unique blend of history and expansion. You may move between older family-centered communities and newer professional spaces near Tustin Legacy, balancing independence with deeply rooted family expectations. That tension between honoring where you come from and creating something different in your relationship can quietly shape how you communicate and connect.
Individuals and couples in Tustin often reach out when conversations feel reactive or when emotional closeness feels inconsistent despite love being present. They are not looking for quick fixes. They want to understand why certain triggers feel so intense and how cultural loyalty, grief, and attachment history influence their patterns. They choose this work because it creates emotional safety without dismissing identity, helping love feel steady rather than strained.
How it works

Step 1
A thorough intake session where we explore your relationship history, cultural backgrounds, and current struggles so we can understand the deeper patterns behind the disconnection.

Step 2
Emotionally focused sessions to help you with clarity, begin repairing trust, and rebuild emotional safety.

Step 3
Ongoing, guided sessions with personalized homework, where we break unhelpful cycles, strengthen connection, and practice healthier ways of relating so your relationship feels more like a true partnership.
Explore my therapy services and specializations
You may be living a full life around Old Town, schools, work, and family responsibilities, but still feel like something between you has become harder to reach. Maybe small comments turn sharp, silence lasts longer, or the same issue keeps coming back without repair.
Clients often feel relief when they stop having to guess what is really happening underneath the conflict. The shift can look like calmer conversations, clearer needs, less defensiveness, and more confidence that hard moments can be handled differently.
In sessions, couple therapy near you may explore trust, emotional safety, communication, intimacy, resentment, and life transitions. The work gives both partners space to understand the pattern instead of getting lost in it.
Individual Therapy
You may be moving through life around Old Town, school routines, work, and family obligations while feeling like you are carrying more than people realize. Maybe you say yes when you want to say no, avoid hard conversations, or keep questioning whether your needs are valid.
Many clients begin to feel relief when they can name the pressure without minimizing it. With individual therapy near you, the shift can look like more clarity, stronger boundaries, and less shame around wanting a life that actually honors you.
Sessions often explore relationship history, cultural expectations, family roles, guilt, grief, self-worth, and the patterns that make it hard to speak honestly. The work supports a more connected way of being with yourself and the people around you.
Anxiety Therapy
You may be moving through Old Town, school routines, work, family obligations, and everyday responsibilities while carrying a level of worry people do not always see. Maybe you replay what you said, anticipate what could go wrong, or feel tense even when the day is technically fine.
Many clients begin to feel relief when anxiety is met with understanding instead of judgment. With anxiety therapy near you, the shift can look like more self-trust, less spiraling, and a greater sense of safety when life feels uncertain.
Sessions often explore worry patterns, family expectations, boundaries, physical tension, relationship stress, and the inner pressure to get everything right. The work gives you room to feel calmer, clearer, and more supported in daily life.
Premarital Counseling
You may be moving through wedding planning, work, family obligations, Old Town routines, and conversations about the future while realizing there are deeper topics you still need to understand together. Marriage brings joy, but it also asks for honesty about expectations and patterns.
Many clients begin to feel relief when the relationship has room to prepare, not just perform. With premarital counseling near you, there can be more clarity around communication, conflict, trust, and how each of you wants to feel supported in married life.
Sessions often explore family influence, finances, intimacy, boundaries, conflict repair, values, traditions, and the emotional habits that will shape your home. The work supports a stronger foundation before the next chapter begins.
Grief Counseling
Around Old Town routines, work obligations, school schedules, and family gatherings, grief can hide in plain sight. You may be the person others expect to be composed, helpful, or practical, even when you are carrying a private ache that changes how you move through the day.
Many clients find relief in having a place where they do not have to make their grief easier for anyone else. With grief counseling near you, there is room for what feels unfinished, unfair, confusing, or too heavy to keep naming alone.
Sessions may explore family expectations, memories that come up unexpectedly, changes in identity, how to ask for support, and how to reconnect with life without feeling like you are betraying your loss.
Immigration evaluations
Immigration Evaluations support individuals in Tustin, CA who need psychological documentation for immigration petitions. Whether connected to asylum, VAWA, hardship, or U visa cases, these evaluations require both precision and sensitivity. If you are searching for immigration evaluations near you, this process prioritizes clarity and professionalism.
Evaluations take place in person in Irvine or virtually across California, with comprehensive written reports prepared to meet legal standards.
I serve first-generation women of color in Tustin, CA
I provide therapy services to individuals and couples in Tustin and surrounding Orange County communities, supporting first-generation Latinas, professionals of color, and multicultural families navigating attachment wounds, anxiety, grief, relational conflict, and generational expectations. My office, located at 4 Venture Suite 355, Irvine, CA 92618, is approximately a 15-minute drive from central Tustin, and I also offer virtual sessions throughout California for added flexibility. I have served Orange County for several years, working with career-focused professionals and family-oriented households who often balance high responsibility with emotional strain beneath the surface.
My approach is emotionally-focused, culturally-responsive, and grounded in attachment-based therapy. In a community known for its blend of historic neighborhoods, growing professional families, and proximity to The District at Tustin Legacy, many residents prioritize stability, growth, and long-term planning. I remain committed to offering care that prioritizes emotional safety and sustainable healing rather than surface-level coping. I serve clients throughout Tustin as well as nearby areas including Irvine, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, and Orange, providing a steady and culturally-aware space for local residents seeking deeper emotional clarity and relational wellbeing.
Testimonials
Dama's approach to therapy is marked by empathy, insight, and a profound commitment to fostering positive change. I can confidently attest to her exceptional skills and unwavering dedication to the well-being of her clients.
Depression/Anxiety ~ Hyland & Associates
Dama is a colleague & a professional that truly cares about her clients & their therapeutic journey. She is highly skilled in Emotionally Focused Therapy helping individuals & couples navigate & strengthen their emotional connections within relationships.
Jan Covyeau
As a former US military officer, I can see Dama being a great therapist for active-duty members, families, and veterans. I confidently recommend clients to Dama because she cares and has clients' best interests in mind.
Angela Chwe

I'm Dama Perez, founder of Casa Therapy offering therapy in Tustin, CA
I help first-generation women of color who feel emotionally too much or not enough create space for self-understanding and connection. From Old Town to Tustin Ranch, my virtual therapy offers a gentle place to explore your story and rebuild emotional trust.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use insurance for therapy?
I am currently an out-of-network provider. However, I can provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement. Many PPO plans offer partial reimbursement checks with your provider to confirm your benefits.
Do you offer a sliding scale?
Yes! I offer two sliding scale spots for clients with financial need. If cost is a concern, please reach out. I'm happy to discuss options during your consultation.
What does the therapy process look like?
We start with an intake session to explore your relationship history, communication patterns, and goals. From there, we’ll meet regularly to uncover deeper emotional patterns, build new tools for connection, and work toward the relationship you want to create. Therapy is always tailored to your unique story and pace.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule a session?
Life happens! I ask for at least 48 hours’ notice for cancellations or reschedules. Sessions canceled with less than 48 hours’ notice may be subject to the full session fee. No-shows or missed appointments without prior notice will be charged the full session rate, as that time is reserved specifically for you.
How does virtual therapy work?
Sessions are held through a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. You’ll receive a private link before each session. All you need is a quiet and confidential space, a reliable internet connection, and a device with a camera and microphone.
What if I don’t feel like we’re a good fit?
It’s completely normal to wonder if therapy is the right match for you. Building trust and feeling comfortable with your therapist is essential for meaningful growth. If at any point you feel unsure about our connection or approach, please let me know. We can talk openly about it and decide together whether to adjust our work or explore other options. Your comfort and progress are my top priorities, and I’m here to support you every step of the way whether that means continuing together or helping you find the best path forward.
Good Faith Estimate (No Surprises Act)
This Good Faith Estimate shows the costs of services that are reasonably expected for the expected services to address your mental health care needs. The estimate is based on the information known to us when we did the estimate.
The Good Faith Estimate does not include any unknown or unexpected costs that may arise during treatment. You could be charged more if complications or special circumstances occur. If this happens, federal law allows you to dispute (appeal) the bill.
If you are billed for more than this Good Faith Estimate, you have the right to dispute the bill.
You may contact the contact listed above if billed charges are higher than the Good Faith Estimate. You can request an update to the bill to match the Good Faith Estimate, ask to negotiate the bill, or ask if there is financial assistance available.
You may also start a dispute resolution process with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). If you choose to use the dispute resolution process, you must start the dispute process within 120 calendar days (about 4 months) of the date on the original bill.
There is a $25 fee to use the dispute process. If the agency reviewing your dispute agrees with you, you will have to pay the price on this Good Faith Estimate. If the agency disagrees with you and agrees with the health care provider or facility, you will have to pay the higher amount.
To learn more and get a form to start the process, go to: www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call CMS at 1-800-985-3059.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute process, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call CMS at 1-800-985-3059 .
This Good Faith Estimate is not a contract. It does not obligate you to accept the services listed above.